Electrical switch



Oct. 12 ,-1 26. V 1,603,167

J. E. THIELER ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed Jan. 19, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR wwayw ATTORNEY WlTNESS:

Patented Oct. 12, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JULIUS E. THIELER, OF BROOKLYN, YORK.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

Application filed January This invention relates to new and useful.improvements in electrical switches and has particular reference to thetype of switch shown in my co- 'iending application Serial #582,734,filed August 18th, 1922, and is adapted for use in connection withindicators and signalling devices as shown therein.

The principal object of the invention resides in the provision of aswitch for selectively controlling the operation of a signalling devicefor displaying indicia and is espec ally adapted for use upon motorvehiclcs within reach of the operator of the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a switch wherein theswitch arm is automatically locked against movement after the same hasbeen manually moved to the selected position thus assuring positiveclosing of the selected circuit.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in certainnovel construction and combination and arrangement of parts, theessential features of which are hereinafter fully described, areparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a top plan View of myimproved electrical switch.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line 44 of Figure1.

The switch 11 includes a pair of circular plates or disks 50 and 51 ofinsulating mate rial and which are held in spaced relation by posts 52.Contacts are disposed adacent the periphery on the underside of theplate 51 and interposed between the contacts are depending studs 52'which act as stops for locking the movement of a member 24 when the sameis in engagement with the selected contact. Two of the posts 52 serve tolimit the movement of the member 24 in e ther direction. The contactsegment 23 is also arranged on the underside of the plate 51 inwardly ofthe contacts 25 and which 50 terminates radially with the said contacts25. The control segment 42 is secured to the top face of the late 50adjacent the periphcry thereof and underlies the contacts 25.

The underside of the lower plate 50 is formed with a collar 53 to whichis threadedly connected the tube or pipe 54 which supports 19, 1925.Serial No. 3,424.

the controlling unit and through which the wires from the contacts 25and contact segments 23 and 4-2 pass after the wires have been insertedthrough the opening 53 in the top plate and thence through the eye 54carried by the lower plate as clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawing.Wires then pass to the respective parts of the device. The plate furthersupports a lamp socket 55 for the reception of an electric lamp 56 whichis arranged in series with the operating circuit and which serves as apilot light to indicate to the operator that the signal within thecasing is in operation.

The upper face of the plate 51 supports a collar 57 to which isthreadedly connected a cylinder closed at its top a threaded cap 59, andwhich cap serves as a bearing for one end oil a plunger rod 60. Theother end of the plunger rod extends below the plate 51 and isbifurcated for pivotal connection as at 51 with the member 24. A spring62 is interposed between the headot the plunge and the plate 51 andserves to hold the member normally in engagement with the contactsarranged on the underside of the said plate. The inner end of the member24 carries a wheel 63 for engagement with the underside of the top platefor assisting in the movement of the manual operation of the member toits difierent radial positions. For bridging the space between themember 24 and the contact segment 23, there is provided a spring finger64 which 90 disengages the contact member 23 when the member 24 isdepressed against the tension of the spring 62 and into contact with thesegment 42 when moving the arm to the different radial positions.

The upper plate 51 further supports a contact 65 disposed in the path ofmovement of the member 24 and the contact 66 arranged in the path ofmovement of the spring arm 64 and in a radial line with the contact 65which sets the device in position for actuation of make and break device(not shown) and with which my suitable switch is adapted for use.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that in order to movethe member 24 in engagement with the respective contacts, it isne'essarv to depress the same against the tension of the spring 62 androtate it until the member is moved adjacent the contact desired to beengaged at which time pressure is relieved i'rointhe member causing thespring 62 to positively seat the memher in engagement with the contact.Nor mally, it is impossible to accidentally move the member out ofengagement with the desired contact as the studs 52' lock the sameagainst movement and it is necessary to depress the member 2asufliciently to clear the studs in order to change the position of themember.

lVhen it is desired that the switch arm he moved to a neutral position,the same may be depressed and released toengage the end of any of thestuds which will cause the spring finger to disengage the contactsegment 23.

lVhat is claimed as new is 1. A switch for use in connection with anelectrically operated signal comprising: a pair of spaced insulatedplates, a plurality of radially disposed spaced contacts arranged on theunderside of one of said plates, a switch arm, having a wheel thereon.at one end for engagement with said last mentioned plate, the other endof said switch arm extending beyond the periphery of said disks andserving as a manipulating handle, a cylinder mounted upon said plate aplunger rod operable in said cylinder and extending between said platesand pivoted to said switch arm, and a spring within said cylinder andacting against said plunger to normally hold said switch arm inengagement with said plurality of contacts.

2. Jr switch for use in connection with an electrically operated signalcomprising a pair of spaced insulated plates. a plurality of radiallydisposed spaced contacts arranged on the undcrsice of one of saidplates, a switch arm wheel rotatably mounted on one end of said switcharm and movable over the underside of said plate. and means tor normallyholding said switch arm in engagement within a plurality of contacts,said last means including a spring actuated plunger piyotally connectedwith said switch arm inidwa between its ends.

In testimony whereof I have aiiixed my signature.

JULIUS E. THIELER.

